Quick Takes: ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ breaks Broadway record

Look who’s got a big smile behind his mask on Broadway: none other than the once-mocked Spider-Man.

The Broadway League reported Tuesday that “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” took in a whopping $2,941,790 over nine performances last week, which is the highest single-week gross of any show in Broadway history.

The Spider-Man show shatters the old record held by “Wicked,” which last January recorded the then-highest one-week take on Broadway with a $2,228,235 haul, though over eight shows. The numbers are not adjusted for inflation. Last week, “Wicked” took in $2,712,535 over nine shows.

The stunt-heavy “Spider-Man,” which at $75 million makes it the costliest ever on Broadway, muscled to the top despite a turbulent history, including injuries to actors, delays in opening night, poor reviews and a record-breaking preview period.

—Associated Press

History channel on to ‘Mankind’

After its successful series on the history of America in 2010, television’s History channel is setting its sights even higher.

The network said Tuesday that a 12-hour miniseries, “Mankind the Story of All of Us,” will debut late this year.

History, seen in more than 300 million homes worldwide, will offer different versions of the series in different parts of the world.

The “America” miniseries was the most-watched special ever on History, with 5.7 million people watching the first episode and nearly 40 million total watching some part of it, the Nielsen ratings company said.

The new series starts with the Big Bang and traces the development of humans on a planet where the vast majority of species go extinct, said Jane Root, the project’s executive producer.

—Associated Press

‘X Factor’ champ signs with Epic

Melanie Amaro, the inaugural winner of Fox’s U.S. edition of “The X Factor,” has signed to Epic Records, the label said Tuesday.

Amaro snagged the largest guaranteed prize in television history with a $5-million recording contract to Sony Music through Syco, a joint venture between Sony and show creator Simon Cowell, when she took the crown in December.

Epic, a division of Sony, is overseen by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, one of the “X Factor” judges.

Cowell previously told The Times that the contract was a guaranteed $5 million paid to the winner over five years and also promised that his team would offer the winner separate financial support so the contestant wouldn’t be forced into investing his or her own money into a debut project.

As part of her prize, Amaro will also star in a Pepsi commercial to air during next month’s Super Bowl.

—Gerrick D. Kennedy

New album for Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt is releasing a new album in 2012, her first in seven years.

“Slipstream,” out April 10, follows a long break from studio work for the Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

“Slipstream” is the 62-year-old’s first album since 2005’s “Souls Alike” and will be the first release on her own record label, Redwing Records. The 12-track album will feature four songs recorded with producer Joe Henry and his musicians, which she describes as experimental. The remainder is self-produced with her touring band.

The album includes covers of Bob Dylan’s “Million Miles” and “Standing in the Doorway,” and of Loudon Wainwright III’s “You Can’t Fail Me Now.”

—Associated Press

‘Artist’ among ADG nominees

Fifteen films earned nominations Tuesday from the Art Directors Guild for excellence in production design during 2011.

Period film: “The Artist,” “Hugo,” “The Help,” “Anonymous,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.”

Contemporary film: “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Descendants,” “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” “Drive,” Bridesmaids.”

Fantasy film: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Adventures of TinTin,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” “Cowboys & Aliens.”

Nominees in the category of production design for a TV movie or miniseries were “Mildred Pierce,” “Cinema Verite,” “Too Big to Fail,” “The Hour” and “Bling Ring.”

The winners will be announced Feb. 4 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

—Lee Margulies